i have an m38 that i traded for. from what information i picked up they all had 24 volt systems and fording kits. mine has 12 volt system and not set up for fording. no top mounted fender light or the holes for them. i admit i am in new territory restoring this great piece of machinery so all the advice i could get is helpful. it is a 1951 m38, mfr. serial no. mc11779, ford stock no. 6795532, ord. serial no. 4756, contract no. w-20-089, mtd. equip. g2740, marine corps 8358318, motor was remanufactured 9-59 ,pod, 804380-w-12-d-p5 in raised letters on the side of the block under distributor. thanks for any help i can get.

No problem, there are a lot of other minor M-38 details, this is just a start. Got a feeling that your Jeep has alterations by former owners that are typical of what happens to 24 Volt Waterproof Jeeps. It's usually a matter of economics and actual training on M-Series 50's and later MV's.

[img]https://i.imgur.co[img]https://i.imgur.com/VegNWKS.jpg[/img]m/zZAVgr7.jpg[/img]img][img]https://i.imgur.com/VegNWKS.jpg[/img][img]https://i.imgur.[img]https://i.imgur.com/uVZoLLV.jpg[/img]com/6QO8SBy.jpg[/img]ur.com/MKxyl9k.jpg[/img]mg][img]https://i.imgur.com/mRiZLrG.jpg[/img][img]https://i.imgur.com/4sKpzvU.jpg[/img][img]https://i.imgur.com/moXqzSK.jpg[/img] a little slow on getting back to you. if it's mechanical, I can fix anything. I leave the computer work to my kids. tag behind passenger seat matches hood numbers. number on data plate is mc11779. seat tag is mc28461. first time I really took a good look at everything and I see no harness to speak of. at one time it was used by a rural fire department. I purchased the m38 book I have been reading about and eagerly await it's arrival. let me know what your thoughts are. good bad or ugly. engine is in my shop along with radiator, flywheel and clutch.

looks to me like a '51 m38 should with a serial number of 28xxx (late june or july). its not a 11779 or any way a ford.
the 804380 block was a replacement to the jeep and why block number starts with R MC and again bored .020
looks like a good tub to start with...

Could be either SN. Motor number has no relationship to the jeep as it's a replacement.
You have the two hole wiring harness firewall cover so it is below about 35K.
Your passenger fender is a replacement as it should have a slave receptacle and fording kit loop. Later fenders did not have provision for the slave receptacle.
As for the BO drive light on the drivers side; don't know. Maybe replacement fenders were not drilled for one.
Your Hood numbers are bogus; the Registration number on the hood is never the same as the vehicle serial number so ignore that.
Your tail gate is not drilled for the spare gas can carrier. Looks like the fire department got a lot of surplus parts which which to fix up their free M38. We used to, and still do, give vehicles to local town governments.
I have restored vehicles owned by fire departments before and they are often 12 volt; they did that because they don't want to spend $ for correct bulbs, regulators, waterproof plugs, etc.
Nice condition to start with; mine was ten times worse. 23K, June 51.

I see an M-38 whose owners had better ideas and did what they could to make it run regardless to originality. Note the Steering Wheel Nut, it is WO-801425, installed only M-38's after Serial No. 31337. These had the late nut made for the waterproof rubber horn button. Earlier M-38 used the MB/CJ-2A Nut with the small bakelite button.